National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Research Articles

Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Unsupervised Pediatric Medication Exposures

Emergency department visits and hospitalizations for unsupervised medication exposures among young children increased in the early 2000s. Prevention efforts were initiated in response. Nationally representative data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project collected from 2009 to 2020 were analyzed in 2022 to assess overall and medication-specific trends in emergency department visits for unsupervised exposures among children aged ≤5 years. From 2009 to 2020, there were an estimated 677,968 (95% CI=550,089, 805,846) emergency department visits for unsupervised medication exposures among children aged ≤5 years in the U.S. Most visits involved children aged 1-2 years (2009-2012 [70.3%], 2017-2020 [67.4%]), and nearly one half involved prescription solid medications (2009-2012 [49.4%], 2017-2020 [48.1%]). The largest declines in estimated numbers of annual visits from 2009-2012 to 2017-2020 were for exposures involving prescription solid benzodiazepines (-2,636 visits, -72.0%) and opioids (-2,596 visits, -53.6%) and over-the-counter liquid cough and cold medications (-1,954 visits, -71.6%) and acetaminophen (-1,418 visits, -53.4%). The estimated number of annual visits increased for exposures involving over-the-counter solid herbal/alternative remedies (+1,028 visits, +65.6%), with the largest increase for melatonin exposures (+1,440 visits, +421.1%). Overall, the estimated number of visits for unsupervised medication exposures decreased from 66,416 in 2009 to 36,564 in 2020 (annual percentage change= -6.0%). Emergent hospitalizations for unsupervised exposures also declined (annual percentage change= -4.5%). Declines in estimated emergency department visits and hospitalizations for unsupervised medication exposures from 2009 to 2020 coincided with renewed prevention efforts. Targeted approaches may be needed to achieve continued declines in unsupervised medication exposures among young children.

Benzonatate Exposure Trends and Adverse Events.

Adverse events (AE), including death, occur in children with benzonatate use. This study aims to understand recent trends in benzonatate exposure and clinical consequences in pediatric patients. This retrospective analysis of data from IQVIA pharmacy drug dispensing, National Poison Data System, National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance Project, FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, and the medical literature evaluated exposure trends and medication-related AEs with benzonatate. Trends for comparator narcotic and nonnarcotic antitussive medications were analyzed where possible for context. During the study period, pediatric benzonatate prescription utilization increased but remained low compared with pediatric utilization of dextromethorphan-containing prescription antitussive medications. Among the 4689 pediatric benzonatate exposure cases reported to US poison control centers from 2010 to 2018, 3727 cases (80%) were for single-substance exposures. Of these, 3590 cases (77%) were unintentional exposures and most involved children 0 to 5 years old (2718 cases, 83%). Cases involving intentional benzonatate exposure increased among children 10 to 16 years old with a more pronounced increase for multiple-substance exposures. Most benzonatate cases involving misuse or abuse were for children 10 to 16 years old (59 cases, 61%). The proportion of cases with serious adverse effects was low. There were few cases annually of serious AEs with benzonatate in children. There were rising patterns of unintentional ingestion of benzonatate in children 0 to 5 years old and intentional benzonatate ingestion in children 10 to 16 years old. Rational prescribing and improved provider and caregiver awareness of benzonatate toxic effects may reduce risks associated with benzonatate exposure.

US emergency department visits for acute harms from over-the-counter cough and cold medications, 2017-2019.

Characterization of emergency department (ED) visits for acute harms related to use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications (CCMs) by patient demographics, intent of CCM use, concurrent substance use, and clinical manifestations can help guide prevention of medication harms. Public health surveillance data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project were used to estimate numbers and population rates of ED visits from 2017 to 2019. Based on 1396 surveillance cases, there were an estimated 26 735 (95% CI, 21 679-31 791) US ED visits for CCM-related harms annually, accounting for 1.3% (95% CI, 1.2-1.5%) of all ED visits for medication adverse events. Three fifths (61.4%, 95% CI, 55.6-67.2%) of these visits were attributed to non-therapeutic CCM use (nonmedical use, self-harm, unsupervised pediatric exposures). Most visits by children aged <4 years (74.0%, 95% CI, 59.7-88.3%) were for unsupervised CCM exposures. Proportion hospitalized was higher for visits for self-harm (76.5%, 95% CI, 68.9-84.2%) than for visits for nonmedical use (30.3%, 95% CI, 21.1-39.6%) and therapeutic use (8.8%, 95% CI, 5.9-11.8%). Overall, estimated population rates of ED visits for CCM-related harms were higher for patients aged 12-34 years (16.5 per 100 000, 95% CI, 13.0-20.0) compared with patients aged <12 years (5.1 per 100 000, 95% CI, 3.6-6.5) and ≥ 35 years (4.3 per 100 000, 95% CI, 3.4-5.1). Concurrent use of other medications, illicit drugs, or alcohol was frequent in ED visits for nonmedical use (61.3%) and self-harm (75.9%). Continued national surveillance of CCM-related harms can assess progress toward safer use.

US Emergency Department Visits Attributed to Medication Harms, 2017-2019

Assessing the scope of acute medication harms to patients should include both therapeutic and nontherapeutic medication use. To describe the characteristics of emergency department (ED) visits for acute harms from both therapeutic and nontherapeutic medication use in the US. Active, nationally representative, public health surveillance based on patient visits to 60 EDs in the US participating in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance Project from 2017 through 2019. Medications implicated in ED visits, with visits attributed to medication harms (adverse events) based on the clinicians' diagnoses and supporting data documented in the medical record. Nationally weighted estimates of ED visits and subsequent hospitalizations for medication harms. Based on 96 925 cases (mean patient age, 49 years; 55% female), there were an estimated 6.1 (95% CI, 4.8-7.5) ED visits for medication harms per 1000 population annually and 38.6% (95% CI, 35.2%-41.9%) resulted in hospitalization. Population rates of ED visits for medication harms were higher for patients aged 65 years or older than for those younger than 65 years (12.1 vs 5.0 [95% CI, 7.4-16.8 vs 4.1-5.8] per 1000 population). Overall, an estimated 69.1% (95% CI, 63.6%-74.7%) of ED visits for medication harms involved therapeutic medication use, but among patients younger than 45 years, an estimated 52.5% (95% CI, 48.1%-56.8%) of visits for medication harms involved nontherapeutic use. The proportions of ED visits for medication harms involving therapeutic use were lowest for barbiturates (6.3%), benzodiazepines (11.1%), nonopioid analgesics (15.7%), and antihistamines (21.8%). By age group, the most frequent medication types and intents of use associated with ED visits for medication harms were therapeutic use of anticoagulants (4.5 [95% CI, 2.3-6.7] per 1000 population) and diabetes agents (1.8 [95% CI, 1.3-2.3] per 1000 population) for patients aged 65 years and older; therapeutic use of diabetes agents (0.8 [95% CI, 0.5-1.0] per 1000 population) for patients aged 45 to 64 years; nontherapeutic use of benzodiazepines (1.0 [95% CI, 0.7-1.3] per 1000 population) for patients aged 25 to 44 years; and unsupervised medication exposures (2.2 [95% CI, 1.8-2.7] per 1000 population) and therapeutic use of antibiotics (1.4 [95% CI, 1.0-1.8] per 1000 population) for children younger than 5 years. According to data from 60 nationally representative US emergency departments, visits attributed to medication harms in 2017-2019 were frequent, with variation in products and intent of use by age.

Emergency Department Visits Attributed to Adverse Events Involving Benzodiazepines, 2016–2017

Characterization of emergency department visits attributed to adverse events involving benzodiazepines can be used to guide preventive interventions. This study describes U.S. emergency department visits attributed to adverse events involving benzodiazepines by intent, patient characteristics, and clinical manifestations. Data from the 2016-2017 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project were analyzed in 2019 to calculate estimated annual numbers and rates of emergency department visits attributed to adverse events involving benzodiazepines, by intent of benzodiazepine use. Based on 6,148 cases, there were an estimated 212,770 (95% CI=167,163, 258,377) emergency department visits annually attributed to adverse events involving benzodiazepines. More than half were visits involving nonmedical use of benzodiazepines (119,008; 55.9%, 95% CI=50.0%, 61.9%), one third were visits involving self-harm with benzodiazepines (64,721; 30.4%, 95% CI=25.6%, 35.2%), and a smaller proportion of visits involved therapeutic use of benzodiazepines (29,041; 13.6%, 95% CI=11.4%, 15.9%). The estimated population rate of visits was highest for nonmedical use of benzodiazepines by patients aged 15-34 years (7.4 visits per 10,000 people). Among visits involving nonmedical use of benzodiazepines, 54.8% (95% CI=49.8%, 59.8%) were made by patients aged 15-34 years, 82.7% (95% CI=80.1%, 85.4%) involved concurrent use of other substances (illicit drugs, alcohol, prescription opioids, and/or other pharmaceuticals), and 24.2% (95% CI=17.7%, 30.6%) involved cardiorespiratory arrest or unresponsiveness. These findings support recommendations to assess for and address substance use disorder before initiating or continuing benzodiazepines and reinforce the need for validated self-harm risk assessment tools for clinicians.

Changes in emergency department visits for zolpidem‐attributed adverse drug reactions after FDA Drug Safety Communications

To identify possible changes in U.S. emergency department (ED) visits from zolpidem-attributed adverse drug reactions (ADRs) after 2013 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Safety Communications (DSCs), which notified the public about FDA's new dosing recommendations for zolpidem. We estimated the occurrence of ED visits from zolpidem-attributed ADRs using nationally representative, public health surveillance of medication harms (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project, 2010-2017). We estimated the number of zolpidem prescriptions using IQVIA National Prescription Audit, 2010-2017. We calculated rates of ED visits for zolpidem-attributed ADRs per 10 000 dispensed zolpidem prescriptions and identified time trends and potential inflection points using joinpoint regression. For comparison, we repeated these analyses for sedating antidepressants commonly used to treat disordered sleep (trazodone, doxepin, and mirtazapine). The best-fit regression model for rates of ED visits for zolpidem-attributed ADRs by 6-month intervals identified a single inflection point in the second half of 2014 (P = .024) with a 6.7% biannual decrease from 2010 to 2014 ([-13.1%, 0.3%], P = .059) and a 13.9% biannual increase from the second half of 2014 through 2017 ([-1.1%, 31.3%], P = .068). No change or inflection points were identified for rates of ED visits for sedating antidepressant-attributed ADRs. While there was a nominal decline in the rate of ED visits for ADRs in the time period before and for 18 months after FDA's 2013 zolpidem DSCs, the decrease was not sustained, and thus questions remain concerning the long-term impact of the zolpidem DSCs on ADRs.

U.S. Emergency Department Visits Resulting From Nonmedical Use of Pharmaceuticals, 2016

National data on morbidity from nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals are limited. This study used nationally representative, public health surveillance data to characterize U.S. emergency department visits for acute harms from nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals and to guide prevention efforts. Data collected in 2016 from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project were analyzed in 2018 to calculate national estimates of emergency department visits for harms from nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals. Based on 5,130 surveillance cases, there were an estimated 358,247 emergency department visits (95% CI=280,675, 435,819) in 2016 for harms from nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals and 41.1% resulted in hospitalization (95% CI=32.3%, 49.8%). One half (50.9%, 95% CI=46.6%, 55.3%) of estimated visits involved patients aged ≤34 years; more than one half of estimated visits also involved non-pharmaceutical substances (52.9%, 95% CI=49.7%, 56.1%), including illicit drugs in 34.1% (95% CI=30.9%, 37.2%) and alcohol in 21.8% (95% CI=19.8%, 23.9%). Overall, benzodiazepines were implicated in 46.9% (95% CI=42.5%, 51.2%) of estimated emergency department visits for nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals but were the only substance implicated in just 6.5% (95% CI=5.1%, 7.9%). Prescription opioids were implicated in 36.2% (95% CI=30.8%, 41.7%) of estimated emergency department visits and were the only substance implicated in 11.3% (95% CI=8.6%, 14.0%). Although prescription opioids or benzodiazepines are frequently implicated in emergency department visits for nonmedical use, because other substances and additional pharmaceuticals are most often involved, prescribing clinicians should consider implementing specific screening to address polysubstance use and, when warranted, treatment interventions.

Ingestion of Over-the-Counter Liquid Medications: Emergency Department Visits by Children Aged Less Than 6 Years, 2012–2015

Unintentional medication ingestions by young children lead to nearly 60,000 emergency department visits annually; 15% involve oral liquid medications. Safety packaging improvements have been shown to limit liquid medication ingestions. Estimated rates of emergency department visits for pediatric ingestions by product were calculated to help target interventions. Frequencies and rates of emergency department visits for unintentional pediatric ingestions were estimated using adverse event data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project and retail sales/pharmacy dispensing data from Information Resources, Inc. and QuintilesIMS (collected 2012-2015; analyzed 2017). Rates of emergency department visits for ingestions of over-the-counter liquid medications were compared with those for prescription solid medications. From the results of 568 cases, an estimated 6,427 emergency department visits (95% CI=4,907, 7,948) were made annually after a child aged <6 years accessed one of the four most commonly implicated over-the-counter liquid medications without caregiver oversight. Nearly two thirds (63.8%) of these visits were made by children aged ≤2 years and 9.0% resulted in hospitalization. Acetaminophen was the most commonly implicated over-the-counter liquid medication (2,515 estimated emergency department visits annually). Rates of emergency department visits for liquid diphenhydramine and acetaminophen ingestions (8.1 and 7.4 emergency department visits per 100,000 bottles sold) were higher than rates for other common over-the-counter liquids and comparable to high-rate prescription solid medications (clonidine and buprenorphine/naloxone: 11.1 and 10.5 emergency department visits per 100,000 dispensed prescriptions, respectively). Product-specific rates of emergency department visits for unintentional ingestions can help prioritize preventive interventions, such as enhancing safety packaging with flow restrictors.

US Emergency Department Visits for Adverse Drug Events From Antibiotics in Children, 2011-2015.

Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed medications for children; however, at least one-third of pediatric antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary. National data on short-term antibiotic-related harms could inform efforts to reduce overprescribing and to supplement interventions that focus on the long-term benefits of reducing antibiotic resistance. Frequencies and rates of emergency department (ED) visits for antibiotic adverse drug events (ADEs) in children were estimated using adverse event data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project and retail pharmacy dispensing data from QuintilesIMS (2011-2015). On the basis of 6542 surveillance cases, an estimated 69464 ED visits (95% confidence interval, 53488-85441) were made annually for antibiotic ADEs among children aged ≤19 years from 2011 to 2015, which accounts for 46.2% of ED visits for ADEs that results from systemic medication. Two-fifths (40.7%) of ED visits for antibiotic ADEs involved a child aged ≤2 years, and 86.1% involved an allergic reaction. Amoxicillin was the most commonly implicated antibiotic among children aged ≤9 years. When we accounted for dispensed prescriptions, the rates of ED visits for antibiotic ADEs declined with increasing age for all antibiotics except sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Amoxicillin had the highest rate of ED visits for antibiotic ADEs among children aged ≤2 years, whereas sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim resulted in the highest rate among children aged 10 to 19 years (29.9 and 24.2 ED visits per 10000 dispensed prescriptions, respectively). Antibiotic ADEs lead to many ED visits, particularly among young children. Communicating the risks of antibiotic ADEs could help reduce unnecessary prescribing. Prevention efforts could target pediatric patients who are at the greatest risk of harm.

National Estimates of Emergency Department Visits for Antibiotic Adverse Events Among Adults-United States, 2011-2015.

Detailed, nationally representative data describing high-risk populations and circumstances involved in antibiotic adverse events (AEs) can inform approaches to prevention. Describe US burden, rates, and characteristics of emergency department (ED) visits by adults for antibiotic AEs. Nationally representative, public health surveillance of adverse drug events (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance [NEISS-CADES]) and a nationally projected database of dispensed prescriptions (QuintilesIMS), 2011-2015. Antibiotic-treated adults (≥ 20years) seeking ED care. Estimated annual numbers and rates of ED visits for antibiotic AEs among outpatients treated with systemically administered antibiotics. Based on 10,225 cases, US adults aged ≥ 20years made an estimated 145,490 (95% confidence interval, 115,279-175,701) ED visits for antibiotic AEs each year in 2011-2015. Antibiotics were implicated in 13.7% (12.3-15.2%) of all estimated adult ED visits for adverse drug events. Most (56.6%; 54.8-58.4%) antibiotic AE visits involved adults aged < 50years, and 71.8% (70.4-73.1%) involved females. Accounting for prescriptions dispensed from retail and long-term care pharmacies, adults aged 20-34years had twice the estimated rate of ED visits for oral antibiotic AEs compared with those aged ≥ 65years (9.7 [7.6-11.8] versus 4.6 [3.6-5.7] visits per 10,000 dispensed prescriptions, respectively). Allergic reactions accounted for three quarters (74.3%; 70.0-78.6%) of estimated ED visits for antibiotic AEs. The three most frequently implicated antibiotic classes in ED visits for antibiotic AEs were oral sulfonamides (23.2%; 20.6-25.8%), penicillins (20.8%; 19.3-22.4%), and quinolones (15.7%; 14.2-17.1%). Per-prescription rates declined with increasing age group. Antibiotics are a common cause of ED visits by adults for adverse drug events and represent an important safety issue. Quantifying risks of AEs from specific antibiotics for specific patient populations, such as younger adults, provides additional information to help clinicians assess risks versus benefits when making the decision to prescribe or not prescribe an antibiotic. AE rates may also facilitate communication with patients about antibiotic risks.

US Emergency Department Visits for Outpatient Adverse Drug Events, 2013-2014

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 brought attention to adverse drug events in national patient safety efforts. Updated, detailed, nationally representative data describing adverse drug events can help focus these efforts. To describe the characteristics of emergency department (ED) visits for adverse drug events in the United States in 2013-2014 and describe changes in ED visits for adverse drug events since 2005-2006. Active, nationally representative, public health surveillance in 58 EDs located in the United States and participating in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project. Drugs implicated in ED visits. National weighted estimates of ED visits and subsequent hospitalizations for adverse drug events. Based on data from 42 585 cases, an estimated 4.0 (95% CI, 3.1-5.0) ED visits for adverse drug events occurred per 1000 individuals annually in 2013 and 2014 and 27.3% (95% CI, 22.2%-32.4%) of ED visits for adverse drug events resulted in hospitalization. An estimated 34.5% (95% CI, 30.3%-38.8%) of ED visits for adverse drug events occurred among adults aged 65 years or older in 2013-2014 compared with an estimated 25.6% (95% CI, 21.1%-30.0%) in 2005-2006; older adults experienced the highest hospitalization rates (43.6%; 95% CI, 36.6%-50.5%). Anticoagulants, antibiotics, and diabetes agents were implicated in an estimated 46.9% (95% CI, 44.2%-49.7%) of ED visits for adverse drug events, which included clinically significant adverse events, such as hemorrhage (anticoagulants), moderate to severe allergic reactions (antibiotics), and hypoglycemia with moderate to severe neurological effects (diabetes agents). Since 2005-2006, the proportions of ED visits for adverse drug events from anticoagulants and diabetes agents have increased, whereas the proportion from antibiotics has decreased. Among children aged 5 years or younger, antibiotics were the most common drug class implicated (56.4%; 95% CI, 51.8%-61.0%). Among children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years, antibiotics also were the most common drug class implicated (31.8%; 95% CI, 28.7%-34.9%) in ED visits for adverse drug events, followed by antipsychotics (4.5%; 95% CI, 3.3%-5.6%). Among older adults (aged ≥65 years), 3 drug classes (anticoagulants, diabetes agents, and opioid analgesics) were implicated in an estimated 59.9% (95% CI, 56.8%-62.9%) of ED visits for adverse drug events; 4 anticoagulants (warfarin, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and enoxaparin) and 5 diabetes agents (insulin and 4 oral agents) were among the 15 most common drugs implicated. Medications to always avoid in older adults according to Beers criteria were implicated in 1.8% (95% CI, 1.5%-2.1%) of ED visits for adverse drug events. The prevalence of emergency department visits for adverse drug events in the United States was estimated to be 4 per 1000 individuals in 2013 and 2014. The most common drug classes implicated were anticoagulants, antibiotics, diabetes agents, and opioid analgesics.

Identifying psychiatric medications causing high numbers and rates of emergency department visits among US adults

ABSTRACT FROM: Hampton LM, Daubresse M, Chang HY, et al . Emergency department visits by adults for psychiatric medication adverse events. JAMA Psychiatry 2014;71:1006–14. More than 1 in 10 adults...

Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Unsupervised Pediatric Medication Exposures, 2004-2013.

After reports of increasing emergency department (ED) visits for unsupervised pediatric medication exposures in the 2000s, renewed efforts to improve safety packaging and education were initiated. National data on current trends can help further target interventions. We used nationally representative data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project (2004-2013) to assess trends in ED visits for unsupervised medication exposures in children aged <6 years. For 2010 through 2013, the dosage form and prescription status of implicated medications were identified. Based on 13,268 cases, there were an estimated 640,161 ED visits (95% confidence interval: 512,885 to 767,436) for unsupervised medication exposures from 2004 through 2013. From 2004 through 2010, ED visits for unsupervised exposures increased by an average of 5.7% annually, peaking at 75,842. After 2010, this trend reversed, and visits decreased by an average of 6.7% annually to 59,092 in 2013. From 2010 through 2013, 91.0% of unsupervised exposure visits involved 1 medication, most commonly an oral prescription solid (45.9%), oral over-the-counter (OTC) solid (22.3%), or oral OTC liquid (12.4%). More than 260 different prescription solids were implicated; opioids (13.8%) and benzodiazepines (12.7%) were the most common classes. Four medications were implicated in 91.2% of OTC liquid exposure visits: acetaminophen (32.9%), cough and cold remedies (27.5%), ibuprofen (15.7%), and diphenhydramine (15.6%). Targeting prevention efforts based on harm frequency and intervention feasibility can lead to continued reductions in ED visits for pediatric medication exposures.

Emergency hospitalizations for unsupervised prescription medication ingestions by young children.

Emergency department visits and subsequent hospitalizations of young children after unsupervised ingestions of prescription medications are increasing despite widespread use of child-resistant packaging and caregiver education efforts. Data on the medications implicated in ingestions are limited but could help identify prevention priorities and intervention strategies. We used nationally representative adverse drug event data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project and national retail pharmacy prescription data from IMS Health to estimate the frequency and rates of emergency hospitalizations for unsupervised prescription medication ingestions by young children (2007-2011). On the basis of 1513 surveillance cases, 9490 estimated emergency hospitalizations (95% confidence interval: 6420-12,560) occurred annually in the United States for unsupervised prescription medication ingestions among children aged <6 years from 2007 through 2011; 75.4% involved 1- or 2-year old children. Opioids (17.6%) and benzodiazepines (10.1%) were the most commonly implicated medication classes. The most commonly implicated active ingredients were buprenorphine (7.7%) and clonidine (7.4%). The top 12 active ingredients, alone or in combination with others, were implicated in nearly half (45.0%) of hospitalizations. Accounting for the number of unique patients who received dispensed prescriptions, the hospitalization rate for unsupervised ingestion of buprenorphine products was significantly higher than rates for all other commonly implicated medications and 97-fold higher than the rate for oxycodone products (200.1 vs 2.1 hospitalizations per 100,000 unique patients). Focusing unsupervised ingestion prevention efforts on medications with the highest hospitalization rates may efficiently achieve large public health impact.

Study Examines Role of Psychiatric Drugs in ED Visits

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical and Research NewsFull AccessStudy Examines Role of Psychiatric Drugs in ED VisitsVabren WattsVabren WattsSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:5 Aug 2014https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2014.9a3AbstractWhile these medications have tremendous benefits, more careful prescribing and monitoring for adverse events are needed.An estimated 26.8 million adults in the United States use prescription medications for psychiatric disorders, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, but use of these important treatments can sometimes lead to adverse consequences that culminate in an emergency department (ED) visit.Steve Design/ShutterstockSo researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health wanted to discover how often use of psychotropic drugs leads to an ED visit. They describe their findings in the July 9 JAMA Psychiatry and show not only the rate at which medications used to treat mental illness can lead to the ED, but they also suggest that efforts should focus on reducing the adverse effects of these drugs.“These are not simple medicines to prescribe,” said Alan Schatzberg, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study. Schatzberg, a past APA president, told Psychiatric News that it’s important for any clinician who prescribes drugs that fall into the category of “psychiatric medicines” to keep abreast of the literature regarding use of such medicines to effectively monitor patients for adverse events. “A high level of competence for prescribing psychiatric drugs is required by doctors—especially psychiatrists,” he emphasized.In the current study, which analyzed data from 63 hospitals participating in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance, the researchers analyzed medical records of adults aged 19 and older who were treated at least once at an ED from January 2009 to December 2011 for an adverse event related to psychiatric drugs. The results showed that psychiatric medication accounted for an estimated 89,094 annual ED visits for adverse events in the three years studied—with about 1 in 5 of the visits resulting in hospital admissionNearly 50 percent of ED visits related to psychiatric drugs involved adults aged 19 to 44, while 17 percent involved patients aged 65 and older. Adverse events related to antipsychotics and antidepressants were the leading medication-related causes of ED visits among the young to middle-aged adults, whereas adverse events linked to use of sedative and anxiolytic medications were the leading cause of ED visits for the older adults. Women aged 19 to 44, were most likely to visit the ED for adverse events associated with antidepressants, while men were more likely to be treated for adverse events involving antipsychotics.Overall, after age and gender factors were removed from the analysis, the researchers found lithium salts and antipsychotics to be the leading contributors to ED visits related to psychiatric medication use. The most common adverse consequences were movement disorders such as dystonia and extrapyramidal disorders, which were linked to antipsychotic use. “These findings provide the first detailed estimates of the annual number of adult emergency department visits due to adverse effects from therapeutic use of antipsychotics, antidepressants, lithium salts, stimulants, and sedatives/anxiolytics,” said lead author Lee Hampton, M.D., MSc., a medical officer with the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the CDC, in an interview with Psychiatric News. “Antipsychotics caused three times more ED visits for adverse drug events than sedatives . . . and almost five times more ED visits than antidepressants.” In a commentary published on Medscape, Hampton noted that the study’s results also support the recommendations highlighted last year by APA in the “Choosing Wisely” campaign about use of antipsychotics, which emphasized that while these medications have tremendous benefits, they also can have serious side effects and thus should be prescribed with caution to ensure that their use is clinically warranted (Psychiatric News, October 31, 2013).Hampton and colleagues concluded that more aggressive efforts should be implemented to reduce adverse events associated with psychiatric medications among adults of all ages, starting with greatest priority given to the medications that this study found were linked with the highest rates of ED visits. ■An abstract of “Emergency Department Visits by Adults for Psychiatric Medication Adverse Events” can be accessed here. ISSUES NewArchived

National estimates of insulin-related hypoglycemia and errors leading to emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

Detailed, nationally representative data describing high-risk populations and circumstances involved in insulin-related hypoglycemia and errors (IHEs) can inform approaches to individualizing glycemic targets. To describe the US burden, rates, and characteristics of emergency department (ED) visits and emergency hospitalizations for IHEs. Nationally representative public health surveillance of adverse drug events among insulin-treated patients seeking ED care (National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project) and a national household survey of insulin use (the National Health Interview Survey) were used to obtain data from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2011. Estimated annual numbers and estimated annual rates of ED visits and hospitalizations for IHEs among insulin-treated patients with diabetes mellitus. Based on 8100 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance cases, an estimated 97,648 (95% CI, 64,410-130,887) ED visits for IHEs occurred annually; almost one-third (29.3%; 95% CI, 21.8%-36.8%) resulted in hospitalization. Severe neurologic sequelae were documented in an estimated 60.6% (95% CI, 51.3%-69.9%) of ED visits for IHEs, and blood glucose levels of 50 mg/dL (to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0555) or less were recorded in more than half of cases (53.4%). Insulin-treated patients 80 years or older were more than twice as likely to visit the ED (rate ratio, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.3) and nearly 5 times as likely to be subsequently hospitalized (rate ratio, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.6-9.1) for IHEs than those 45 to 64 years. The most commonly identified IHE precipitants were reduced food intake and administration of the wrong insulin product. Rates of ED visits and subsequent hospitalizations for IHEs were highest in patients 80 years or older; the risks of hypoglycemic sequelae in this age group should be considered in decisions to prescribe and intensify insulin. Meal-planning misadventures and insulin product mix-ups are important targets for hypoglycemia prevention efforts.

So Much Insulin, So Much Hypoglycemia

So Much Insulin, So Much Hypoglycemia

Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations for Digoxin Toxicity

Background— Recent data on digoxin prescribing and adverse events are lacking but could help inform the management of digoxin in contemporary heart failure treatment. Methods and Results— We determined nationally representative numbers and rates of emergency department (ED) visits for digoxin toxicity in the United States using 2005 to 2010 reports from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance project and the National Ambulatory (and Hospital Ambulatory) Medical Care Surveys. Based on 441 cases, an estimated 5156 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2663–7648) ED visits for digoxin toxicity occurred annually in the United States; more than three fourths (78.8% [95% CI, 73.5%–84.1%]) resulted in hospitalization. Serum digoxin level was ≥2.0 ng/mL for 95.8% (95% CI, 93.2%–98.4%) of estimated ED visits with levels reported (n=251 cases). The rate of ED visits per 10 000 outpatient prescription visits among patients ≥85 years was twice that of patients 40 to 84 years (rate ratio, 2.4 [95% CI, 1.2–5.0]); among women, the rate was twice that of men (rate ratio, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.1–4.7]). Digoxin toxicity accounted for an estimated 1.0% (95% CI, 0.6%–1.4%) of ED visits for all adverse drug events among patients ≥40 years, but an estimated 3.3% (95% CI, 2.3%–4.4%) of ED visits and 5.9% (95% CI, 4.0%–7.9%) of hospitalizations for all adverse drug events among patients ≥85 years. Estimated annual ED visits and hospitalizations remained relatively constant from 2005 to 2010. Conclusions— Digoxin toxicity is not declining; more careful prescribing to high-risk groups and improved monitoring of serum levels might be needed to reduce morbidity from outpatient digoxin use.

Cough and Cold Medication Adverse Events After Market Withdrawal and Labeling Revision

In October 2007, manufacturers voluntarily withdrew over-the-counter (OTC) infant cough and cold medications (CCMs) from the US market. A year later, manufacturers announced OTC CCM labeling would be revised to warn against OTC CCM use by children aged <4 years. We determined whether emergency department (ED) visits for CCM adverse drug events (ADEs) declined after these interventions. We used National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance data from 2004 to 2011 to estimate the number of ED visits for CCM ADEs before and after each intervention. Among children aged <2 years, ED visits for CCM ADEs decreased from 4.1% of all ADE ED visits before the market withdrawal to 2.4% of all ADE visits afterward (difference in proportion: -1.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.7% to -0.6%). Among children aged 2 to 3 years, ED visits for CCM ADEs decreased from 9.5% of all ADE ED visits before the labeling revision announcement to 6.5% of all ADE visits afterward (difference in proportion: -3.0%, 95% CI: -5.4% to -0.6%). Unsupervised ingestions accounted for 64.3% (95% CI: 51.1% to 77.5%) of CCM ADE ED visits involving children aged <2 years after the withdrawal and 88.8% (95% CI: 83.8% to 93.8%) of visits involving children aged 2 to 3 years after the labeling revision announcement. After a voluntary market withdrawal and labeling revision, ED visits for CCM ADEs declined among children aged <2 years and 2 to 3 years relative to ADE ED visits for all drugs. Interventions addressing unsupervised ingestions are needed to reduce CCM ADEs.

Octogenarians Hit Hard by Insulin Adverse Events

Older adults with diabetes are particularly vulnerable to insulin adverse event–related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations, an analysis of nationally representative surveillance data has shown. Compared with diabetes patients aged 45-64 years, those 80 years or older were 2.5 times as likely to present to the ED with an insulin adverse event (34.9 vs. 13.7/1,000 insulin-treated diabetes patients) and about five times as likely to be emergently hospitalized for such an event (16.1 vs. 3.3/1,000 persons). The data support setting glycemic targets to individuals’ potential benefit, Dr. Andrew I. Geller of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Earlier this year, the ADA recommended that older adults who are “functional, cognitively intact, and have significant life expectancy” should not have glycemic targets different from those of younger adults but acknowledged that for some older adults, glycemic targets “might reasonably be relaxed, using individual criteria.” The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Diabetes Management Algorithm 2013 says that a hemoglobin A level “of 6.5% or less is still considered optimal if it can be achieved in a safe and affordable manner” but adds that the HbA target “must be individualized based on numerous factors, such as age.” Dr. Geller noted that insulin is the most commonly implicated medicine in U.S. ED visits and is linked to about 14,000 hospitalizations annually among adults 65 years or older. He and his colleagues estimated annual insulin use frequency with National Health Interview Survey data, and annual insulin adverse events with data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System–Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance (NEISS-CADES), an ongoing public health surveillance project based on chart abstraction, not ICD codes. Insulin adverse events were defined as supratherapeutic effects (hypoglycemia) and therapeutic misadventures (for example, errors). Allergic reactions, local effects, and accidental exposure were excluded. Insulin adverse events led to an estimated 97,745 ED visits annually from 2007 to 2011, accounting for 6.5% of all adverse drug event–related ED visits, Dr. Geller said. While the sample had a slight predominance of males (50.4%) and a majority of whites (60.5%), there was no difference in rates by gender or race. Patients aged 45-64 years had the highest proportion of ED visits (35%), followed by those 65-79 years (25.3%), 18-44 years (21.7%), 80 years or older (15.8%), and younger than 18 years (2.1%). Still, patients 80 years or older had a rate of 34.9 ED visits per 1,000 diabetic people, far surpassing rates observed among those younger than 18 years (13.7), 18-44 years (24.3), 45-64 years (13.7), and 65-79 years (16.3). Patients aged 65-79 years had the highest proportion of hospitalizations (32.9%), but once again, those 80 years and older had the highest rate of hospitalizations per 1,000 diabetic people (16.1), compared with the other age groups: younger than 18 years (2.5), 18-44 years (3.9), 45-64 years (3.3), and 65-79 years (6.2). Based on clinical and laboratory findings, about 65% of patients presented with shock, loss of consciousness, or seizure (23.2%); fall or other injury (5%); and altered mental status (37%), Dr. Geller said. More than half of patients had a blood glucose level less than 50 mg/dL. More than half (56%) of patients received intravenous dextrose or glucagon during their ED visits, while 29.3% of visits overall resulted in hospitalization, he said. Precipitating factors were documented in about 21% of charts. The three most common were: ▸Meal-related factors in 45.6%, such as a 19-year-old driver who took insulin 2 hours before hitting a tree, but had “no time to eat.”▸Product mix-ups in 22%, including a 51-year-old injected by his spouse with 50 U of NovoLog instead of 50 U of Lantus.▸Incorrect dose or units in 12%, such as a 62-year-old who took 40 U of regular insulin instead of 4 U. In cases where a patient took the wrong type of insulin, 52.3% of mix-ups involved a person taking a rapid-acting agent instead of a long-acting one, Dr. Geller said. “Perhaps the burden of insulin adverse events may be impacted by targeting at-risk individuals such as older adults, bolstering diabetes education such as meal planning, and minimizing the risk of product mix-ups, perhaps through packaging,” he concluded. Dr. Geller reported having no relevant financial conflict of interest.